Changing employee after qualifying week - do I get smp?

butler_helen

I am trying to budget for my maternity leave and am struggling for the answer to this question.

I will be employed by employer A in my qualifying week. However, I will be working for employer B afterwards as I will have handed in my notice with employer A. (There will be no overlap in employment).

I've been told I will get SMP from employer A, with no enhanced package and just the enhanced package part of employer B's policy (no qualifying period for enhanced maternity benefits).

If this is right, then employer A will pay me as a lump sum which leaves me with a HUGE amount of tax, NI and student loan to pay. Can I "force" employer A to pay my SMP weekly over the year to avoid this? I don't mind paying tax an NI as I would have "earned" it, it's the hit in student loan which I can't pay back.

I earn c.£42k if that helps.

Pricivius

My understanding is that it is possible to ask employer A to spread out your payments, but they may not be prepared to do so. They would have to keep you on their books as an employee if they were to do this so you would not get your notice pay until the end of your mat leave. You will also accrue annual leave throughout your mat leave that they will have to pay.

One thing to note is that if you ask employer A to spread out the SMP payments over 39 weeks of your mat leave, you would need to be very careful that you do not work during this period for employer B or any other employer. Even a Kit Day with employer B would end your SMP from employer A.

butler_helen

Hi,

That helps. I will at least get smp as I won't work during my maternity leave (even a kit day).

Now I just need to clarify if I get the enhanced maternity pay from employer b who still haven't given me a start date!

I doubt employer a will let me have it monthly so I will get hammered for tax,NI and student loan on it

getmore4less

The tax would be no different.

NI may or may not depending on the amounts actualy being paid.

if it is all paid as a lump sum in a final pay that you actualy work it could be a lot less as it drops from 12% to 2%.

no idea how Student loans work

getmore4less

If I was employer B your start date would be at the end of maternity with no payments before then.